The Rich History of Chattanooga Tennessee

The History of Chattanooga

The Chattanooga Tennessee area was first inhabited by Native Americans. From 1776 to 1838, Chattanooga was home to the Cherokee and Muskogean tribes. The name "Chattanooga" is derived from the word cvto (chatta), a Muskogean term for rock. It is believed that the Muskogeans were referring to Lookout Mountain when they named the area.

The Cherokee inhabitation of Chattanooga ended in the mid 1800s when Chief John Ross and his tribe were forced to move from the area to reservation land in Oklahoma in 1838. Ross's Landing was one of three large internment camps in the area for the Cherokee along the Trail of Tears.

Later in 1863, the American Civil War found its way to the Chattanooga area as well. On November 23, 1863, the Third Battle of Chattanooga took place when Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant counterattacked the Confederate troops in the area. The day after that, the Battle of Lookout Mountain was fought near the town as well. This wasn't the only action that the area would see either. A year later in the spring, the Atlanta Campaign began nearby and moved into Georgia.

However, the city wasn't hindered by the Civil War and by the 1930s the city was known as the "Dynamo of Dixie." Chattanooga had become an industrial community and major manufacturing center. Although, due to the rise of industry in the city, there also came pollution and in 1969, the federal government named Chattanooga the city with the dirtiest air in the country.

Throughout the following decades, the area of Chattanooga would make great strides in improving the image of the city and reduce the pollution caused by manufacturing. Downtown was revitalized and the Walnut Street Bridge restored. This bridge is the oldest surviving bridge of its kind in the Southeastern states. The city also began a $120 million redevelopment of the waterfront and downtown area as well to revamp the city and revive the beautiful and thriving community.

Click here to return to the top of this "History of Chattanooga" page.